Agitating device for photographic, liquid developer



Sept. 22, 1953 R. SARDI-:SON ET AL 2,652,758

AGIIAIING DEvIcE FOR PHoIoGRAPHIc, LIQUID DEVELOPER Filed Nov. 22, 1949l 6 Sheets-Shet 2 Sept- 22, 1793 RfsARDEsoN ET AL 2,652,558A

AGITATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPI-IIC,l LIQUID DEVELOPER 97 96 az se FiledNov. 22, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 ze .zoe zo g4 .-FLZ'E 15' Z askr.ShREsa/v JOHN F BRADEN (aN/wm E, 'L EE Sept. 22, 1953 R. sARDEsoN ET AL2,652,758

AGITATING DEV-ICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC, LIQUID DEVELOPER Filed Nov. 22, 19496 Sheets-Sheet 4 FILE .5'4 6,

100 77 96 v l o L /o/ FaBERr Sanne-50N i fo/4N FER/maw 5M LaNfP/w E. LEE

Arrow/vf? Sept. 22, 1953 R. SARDESON ET AL AGITATING DEVICE FORPHOTOGRAPHIC, LIQUID DEVELOPER Filed Nov. 22 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept.22, 1953 R. sARDEsoN ET AL 2,652,758

AGITATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC, LIQUID DEVELOPER Filed Nov. 22, 19496 Sheets-Sheet 6 PIE 7E FoBERr SARDEso/v Jou/v FER/:DEN 60A/RAD E. LEE

A TTQFPNE Y Patented Sept. 22, 1953 i AGITATING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC,LIQUID DEVELOPER Robert Sardeson, John F. Braden, and Conrad E. Lee,Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Pako Corporation, Minneapolis, Minn., acorporation of Delaware Application November 22, 1949, Serial No.128,882

14 claims. l

This invention relates to a device for agitating the liquid used in theprocessing of photographic sensitized sheets, such as films or prints.It is desirable and in fact practically necessary with some types ofsuch sheets, such as films used in colored photography, to agitate thetreating liquid, such as the developing liquid, to properly process thelms.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, efficient andpower driven device for agitating the liquid in which the lms aresubmersed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an agitating devicehaving an agitating means, which moves at constant velocity when in theproximity of the sheet or film being processed, thereby effectinguniform development.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a reciprocatingagitating means which moves at constant velocity when in the proximityof the sheet or film being processed and which changes its velocity andreverses its direction of motion in a portion of its travel which isremoved from the sheet or lm.

Another object of this invention is to provide vanes lying respectivelyin more than one plane to remove air bells from said sheets.

It is another object of the invention to provide an agitating device forthe liquid in which photographic sheets are being treated comprising aplurality of agitating members or vanes disposed respectively adjacentsaid sheets, together with means for moving said members or vanesadjacent said sheets and in planes substantially parallel thereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an agitating devicefor agitating the liquid in which photographic lms are being processedcomprising a container for holding said liquid and for supporting one ormore film hangers on Which said films are carried preferably insubstantially vertical planes, a plurality of vanes disposedrespectively adjacent said lms and extending substantially across thesame in one direction, and means for reciprocating said vanes in planessubstantially parallel to the surface of said lms respectively. i It isstill another object of the invention to provide such a device assetforth in the preceding paragraph, together with'means for stoppingthe movement of said vanes and positioning them when their movement isstopped at one side of said containerV Wherebythey will not interferewith the removal or placement of said hangers or films.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a device as setforth in the preceding paragraph save one, including means forsupporting said vanes so that one or more of the same can move betweenadjacent lms.

It is more specically an object of the invention to provide an agitatingdevice comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a processing liquidfor photographic films and to support hangers carrying lms disposed insaid liquid and container and preferably in substantially Verticalplanes, a plurality of agitating varies disposed in said containerrespectively adjacent said films and extending substantially across thesame in one direction, means supporting said vanes eX- tending withoutsaid receptacle, a carrier for said means, a support on which saidcarrier is slidable, and motor driven means for reciprocating saidcarrier on said support to move said vanes in planes substantiallyparallel to the surfaces of said films respectively.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagonal view of the device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 5 is a View in elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 4substantially at the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view as seen substantially from the line 6-6 ofFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in differentpositions;

Fig. 8 is a plan View similar to Fig. 6 showing the parts in differentpositions;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in other positions;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 8 also showing the parts inother positions;

Fig. l1 is a partial vertical section taken on line H-Il of Fig. 5;

Fig. l2 is a partial plan View of the device, some parts being brokenaway and others shown in horizontal section; and

Fig. 13'is a partial section taken on line l3-I3 of-Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, a device is shown comprising a casing ofsubstantially rectangular form in horizontal and vertical cross section.Casing 2) is open at its top and one end thereof extends a shortdistance inwardly horizontally at its top, then downwardly and in wardlyat an inclination, and then vertically for a short distance to form thetop portion 20a which extends along one end oi said casing. The ends andone side of said casing extend inwardly horizontally at the top of thecasing, then downwardly vertically for some distance and then outwardlyhorizontally for a short distance to form the side and end portionstill). The other side of said casing is bent outwardly at its top andsupports a portion 2te extending inwardly a short distance, thendownwardly and then outwardly a short distance. The top part of portion20c extends horizontally outward quite a distance and has an outerdownturned lip. Casing 2@ is supported upon a plurality of hangedmembers 2| extending longitudinally thereof at its bottom and plates '22extend across the ends of these members. Preferably the plates or sheetmaterial of which the casing is made extends inwardly horizontally toform the bottom ild of the casing and the ends of said sheet are bentdownwardly adjacent one side of the casing to form the portions Bee. Onemember 2i has a downwardly extending portion Zia adjacent one of theportions 26e and said portion 2in and portions 2de are connected byheaded and nutted bolts 2S. A drain trough or receptacle M is disposedbeneath one side of casing 2e, as shown in Figs. l and Ll, said troughhaving the shape shown in cross section in Fig. 4. rCasing Eil hasdisposed therein and supported on the bottom Zed, a re ceptacle 2B whichis substantially rectangular in vertical and horizontal cross section.Receptacle 2t has secured to the inner sides thereof substantiallyZ-shaped angle members 2l, the same being secured by headed and nuttedbolts 28. Disposed within receptacle 26 are a plurality of containers@il preferably of rectangular form in horizontal and vertical crosssection, receptacle 2 and containers Se having open tops. The sides ofcontainers 3o are spaced from the sides of receptacle and engage members2l' to which they are secured, as by welding. Containers 3@ aresupported some Ydistance above the bottom of receptacle 26. While this*could be variously done, in the embodiment .of the inventionillustrated containers 3i) have a depressed portion-Sila in the bottomAthereof having an opening centrally therethrough, and a spool-likemember 3l of yielding `or lresilient material is disposed in thisopening with flanges extending at the top and bottom sides of saiddepressed portion. A pipe 32 extends through member 3| and has a collaror flange at its upper end engaging the top of member 3l, .the top ofsaid ila-nge or collar being flush with the bottom of container Si).Pipe 32 is threaded to receive a nut 33 engaging the bottom ofreceptacle 25 so that the flange or collar at the top of pipe 32 can bedrawn tightly against member 3i and said `member drawn tightly againstthe lbottom of receptacle 26 to make a fluid-tight joint. Pipe 32 has asleeve 34 at its bottom Ydisposed within the trough 24. There are aplurality of the pipes 32 with the described adjacent parts, as shown inFig. 1, the same being connected to the various containers Sil.Containers are adapted to yreceive and hold the various processingliquids. The ones at the left of Fig. 1 will contain developer, and theothers will contain respectively a short stop solution; nxing solution,and washing solutions. The parts of the containers 3i) adjacent the longside of casing 2e will be referred to as the ends of the containers. Thepair of containers at the lefthand end of Fig. 1, which will be referredto as containers BSA, have secured to their ends spaced plates 35i whichproject inwardly at right angles to said ends. Said plates are in pairs,as shown in Fig. 2, and the plates of each pair diverge at their upperends and extend vertically in parallel relation below said upperdiverging end portions. The casing 2li is adapted to support one or morefilm hangers ilo. Said nlm hangers could be of various forms, but in theembodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as having platesWe at their tops which project at the sides of said hangers and aresupported upon the sides of casing 255, as shown in Fig. 1. Said hangershave spaced top plates lieb extending between plates 48a, the centralone of which is bent upwardly to form a handle fito. Said hangers areshown as having short plates Mid extending downwardly vertically fromtheir top portions, and between plates lilais a plate elle secured tothe top central plate 4Gb and having downwardly offset and laterallyprojecting portions. A removable portion lief has a top portionrectangular in cross section with inwardly projecting portions legadapted to be received between the laterally projecting portions ofplates 4de and the top plate lieb. These portions Ef can be removedbodily from the top portion of the hanger including parts alla to 40o.Portions Bf have downwardly extending transversely spaced portions ichwhich are provided with a plurality of spaced nlm gripping means 91'.The nlm hanger shown in the container 30A at the left of Fig. 2 isadapted to hold a long strip or film and this passes around asemi-cylindrical porn tion t at the bottom part of the hanger. Thehangers shown in the receptacle ilA at the right of Fig. 2 are adaptedto hold rectangular films of shorter length and these are held at theirtops and bottoms by the film gripping means 453k. The hanger shown linthe container 353A at Vthe ,right of Fig. 2 is substantially like that`disclosed and claimed in the application of Robert W. Armstrong letal., for Multiple Film Hanger, filed September l5, 1945., S. N. 616,595./'hen the hangers are placed in the casing 2i) and in the containers38A, they .are guided into position by the diverging upper portions ofplates B and they have portions which are received and held between theparallel portions of plates 3e. The work has to be done a dark room andthe diver-ging portions of rplate 3.5 greatly assist the operator inquickly placing the hangers in position. Containers 36A are thus adaptedto hold the developing .liquid and tosupport the hangers iii which carrythe lms 42 which are submerged in said liquid. As shown .in Figs. 2 ande, the iilrns are disposed in substantially vertical and parallelplanes.

Apair of spaced angle members t@ are secured lto the outer side ofreceptacle .26 at the top portion thereof and these will 'be secured inany suitable manner, as lby welding. Members 56 have nanges projectingat right angles to the side of receptacle 26 and a channel member '5i isydisposed. between ymembers 50 with its anges engaging the :flanges 4ofmembers 5% and being connected thereto .by spaced headed and nuttedbolts 52. Member 5l extends upwardly and has an angle member 53 securedtherein at 'its top in any suitable manner, as by welding, member 53having a vertically extending end portion. A bar 56, illustrated as ofrectangular form in cross section, rests on member 53 and member 5| andhas its end abutting said vertical portion of member 53. Bar 56 issecured to member 53 by a pair of spaced screws 51. Bar 56 extendsacross receptacle 26 and containers 30A and is supported at its otherend in a bracket 58. Bracket 58, see Figs. 2, 5 and 11,is supported onand secured to a plate 6| which in turn is supported by spaced brackets60 secured to the outer side of receptacle 26. See Figs. 4. and 11.Brackets 60 comprise angle members 60a secured in any suitable manner tothe outer side of receptacle 26. as by welding. Bar 56 is secured tobracket 58 by a pair of spaced screws 66 having their heads disposed inrecesses 56a in bar 56 so as to be well below the top of said bar. Amember 62 which constitutes a slide has a channel extending therethroughin which bar 56 fits, see Fig. 5, and members 63 in the form of flatbars are secured to the bottom of member 62 and extend inwardly underthe bottom of bar 56 so that member 62 is firmly held on bar 56 so as tobe slidable thereon. Member 62 has an upstanding portion 62a having agroove 62h extending across the top thereof, and a bar 64 shown as ofrectangular form in cross section nts in groove 62h and extends quite adistance at either side of portion 62a. A plurality of verticallyextending bars 65 have horizontal por-tions 65a. which extend across thetop of bar 64 and t into grooves in the top of bar 64. Bars 65 curvedownwardly and have vertical portions 65D which extend downwardly intoreceptacles 30A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. Bars 65 have groovesreceiving bar 64 and are held on bar 64 by the bars 61 which extendrespectively across the pairs of bars 65 and are held thereagainst bythe spaced screws 69 extending through bars 61 and threaded into bar 64.As shown in Fig. 2, bars 65 extend close to the bottom of containers 30Aand are connected at their bottoms so that they are really sideVportions of one U-shaped member. Another bar 69 is secured centrally tothe connecting portion of bars 65 and is held between'oppositelydisposed angle brackets 10 riveted to said connected member and to bar69. Bars 65 and 69 have secured thereto agitating plates or vanes 12 and13 respectively. Vanes 12 and 13, as shown in Fig. 2, extend somewhatbeyond the tops and bottoms of the films which are held in hangers 40.Said vanes 12 and 13 have portions formed centrally thereof which fitover the edge of the bars 65 and 69 and will be connected to said barsin any suitable manner, as by spot welding. It will be noted that thevanes 13 are disposed between the films on hangers 40. It will also benoted that the vane 13 is in a different plane than the adjacent vanes12. Member 62 and thus bar 65 and vanes 12 and 13 are moved back andforth across the containers 30A and for this purpose a link 18ispivotally connected at one end by the headed and nutted bolt 19 to thelower portion of a platelike depending partof member 62. Link 18 ispivotally connected at its other end by the pivot bolt 80v to a lug 8|secured to one of the links 82a of an endless chain 82. Chain 82 at oneend runs over a sprocket 83 journaled on a stud 84 secured in the lowerportion of a bracket 85 secured to the bottom of bar 56 by the headedscrews 86. Screws 86 have their heads disposed in recesses 56h of bar 56so as to be disposed well below the top of-said bar. Washers 81 areshown underlying the heads of screws 86. Both the screws 66 and 86extend through elongated slots 56e in bar 56 so that the relativepositions of bar 56 and brackets 58 and 85 can be varied. Bracket 85 tsin a slot 56d in the bottom of bar 56. Cylindrical projections 16 extenddownwardly from the portion connecting bars 65 and are disposed ateither side of a channel member 11 secured to and extending across thebottom of each container 30A. The other end of chain 82 runs over asprocket 90 secured to a shaft 89 which projects from one side of aspeed reduction unit 92 secured to the top of bracket 60. Shaft 89 isalso secured to one element of a safety slip clutch 93 to anotherelement of which the slow speed shaft 9| of said unit is connected. Amotor 94 illustrated as of the electrical type is mounted on plate 6Iand the driving shaft of said motor has secured thereto a pulley 95 overwhich runs a belt 96 also running overz a pulley 91 secured to a shaft98 forming the driving shaft of the speed reduction unit 92. With thedescribed construction it will be seen that motor 94 will drive thespeed reduction unit and sprocket 90 will be driven by the slow speedshaft 9| of unit 92. This will cause chain 82 to travel over sprockets90 and 83 and link 18 will be carried with said chain and willreciprocate bracket 62 and the parts carried thereby including the vanes12 and 13.

Pulleys 95 and 91 have grooves therein of trapezoidal shape in crosssection and the belt 96 is of similar shape in cross section and nts insaid groove. A brake member |00 is secured to a lever |0| which ispivoted by the pivot |02 to a bracket |03 secured to bracket 60 by theheaded screws |04. Lever IOI, which is of channel shape, is engaged atone side by a washer |06 which is in turn engaged byl one end of acompression coiled spring |01. The other end of spring |01 engages awasher |08 carried on a rod ||0 which extends through said spring andthe vertical flange of an angle bracket A block I3 of resilient materialis disposed adjacent bracket A washer |9 is disposed on rod I0 adjacentthe end thereof and held thereon by a cotter pin 2| Bracket is securedto plate 6| by spaced screws ||2. A rod ||4 is supported upon spacedpairs of members ||5 secured to plate 6| and above which are mountedrollers ||6 adapted to rotate on vthe vertically disposed bolts ||1extending therethrough and threaded into supports ||5. Washers ||8underlie the heads of bolts 1. Rod or bar ||4 is thus supported forlongitudinal movement. One end of bar ||4, namely theleft-hand end, asvshown in Figs. 5 to l0, engages the side of lever |0| opposite thatengaged by washer |06. Theother end of bar ||4 has secured thereto ablock ||9 to which is secured a plate-like member |20y having a shoulderor step |2001. adjacent a vertical. surface |2017. Bar ||4 has securedthereto a latch member |22 having a V-shaped notch therein with avertical side 22a and an upwardly inclined side |22b. A bar |24 which iscomparatively thin and of general rectangular shape in cross section ispivoted on a headed pin |25 carried in a bracket |26 secured to plate 6|by the screws |21. Pin |25 is held in place by a cotter pin |28extending through one end thereof. Bar 24 at one end-is held against thelatch member |22 by a tensile coiled spring |30 secured to said bar atonel end 'and at its other end being secured to plate 6|. The other endof bar |24 has a curved top surface. vrThe top of bar |24 endend-curvedsurface is engaged by a cylinrag; whichv is. the. actuating shamefthef,motor Switch.. Arm, |5332 carries., a: studsl [35: on` which its;iournaledV a.. small roller If. Hol-'lerY i335. is allilianged tovengage a plate; Illa secured tot/block I .I9 to. which member l2ilcissecured bythe headed boltsA IAG. Plate. I3&has.a portion disposed inavertical plane and` parallelL tdu bar. I I,4:` and has a` shorterinclined: puirtiomextended`- toward: bar II 4'. Arm` l.3f3;is shownuasf. having a.bifurcated end and being clamped` to.. shaft: L3M by. ascrew i412; Acontrollmember: for starting andstopping the machinecomprises-V' an; arm IM. secured to arod. L45 which extends to..one sideof casing 2Il1and-iis` providedwith: a. handle portion lla having at.its end a knob. Ill'. Arm IM carries a. studi; KAB ongwhich.is-journaled av roller |45; Roller Ii9:- ispositioned to engage-thevertical surface` l2buand:r to,v swing down to'fvthe'top of steplorshoulder-'2 I2Ila,v as show-nin Fig. 7. Roller I 36 is adaptedlto berengaged Aby the'stvvolportions ofplate |38..

Receptacle 2611s provided with'linlet and'ou-tlet conduits Imi-and@l-srespectively, as shown in Fig; l. Anim-let conduit IE6-isEV shown forsupplying wash Water r:tosome-off the receptacles SII- A. boxen casingIBB is -shownin'Figf. l at the top of and at-one cornerof-'casing Eil.'VThis is a distributingfy boxv4 forvarious electrical conductorsused'; Aconduit I6fI'-isf-connected to boxv I6() andz enclosesV thief-electricalconductors entering the same. A housingforguard cover IEB extends overthatopportions of bar 64=-fand encloses the upperportion of member 6-2.Cover'- l58-extends across casing resting onthe: top portions thereof.

In operationv thecontainers -will bearranged asl shown inY receptacle26'and will contain the various solutions used in` processing thefilm.Preferablyv a temperature regulating` liquid is circulated aboutthe-containers 30 inf receptacle 26 by suitable apparatus form-ing nopart of theepresent invention. This liquidcan enter and leave throughconduits I 5l!D and` I flresp ectively. The ymachinewill?belocatedinadark room. The lms l2Iv to Abe processed will: Ibelvsecuredtol Vthe hangersn in thelusualmannerandsaid hangers will then be4placed in the containers 39A, as shown` in` Figs. 1 and-P2.' Thefllmsarethus disposed in substantiallyverticalf planes, andas shown, thehangers each have-'horizontally spaced po:tions carrying iilms.` Whenthelms arein lposition andit is desiredto start theinachine; theoperator will swing-*handle IAS-fin a counterclockwisedirection-andthsfwill'move armL IM in acounter-clockwise direction, asseen in Figs; 5 to 10, softhat rollerfldli will engage-thelverticalsurface I2Ilb` and "come into the-position shown in Fig. 7'. Rod II4iszthus pushed tothe left',ias shown in Fig. 7; andispring |01 iscompressed;` Member IDI is4 swungf about itsrpivotz. H32.v inaccunterclockwise,direction'-to the position shown in Fig. 7. The.brake;VIIllJiis thus: moved away from belt 95 and? pulley-:91; When rodJ'I'I'A-was moved to the'left,;roller`-I36moved? onY to the longerportionaofrplatei. |38, as shown in Fig: 8i The switchfisfthusclosedtofstartfthe motor 94.' Shaftl 98s is thusdriven and the speedvreduction unit 92 `is drivenl and ther lowspeed shaft 9I thereof.rotates sprocket-19t..l Chain 82`isnowx movedl and travels-between andover the sprocketsY Sllf'and 8331 I8'Jthus 'movesmemberf'SZ1 andY this.in turn= moves ba-r V6 and 'the `bars 65? Thea varies. 112:.' andfirare.. thus.; movedfand; these arereciprozcatedor' moved back. and forthacross the: containers. 30A. and adjacent the filmsv on the hangers.Asi). Ita has been found inpractice that= it is important; andnecessarytol have the vanes in dierent planesrto give the desired agitation of'.theliquid; Small airA bells or bubbles collect: on the. bottom: portionsof the films, particularly;` the; one shown inthe container 30A attheleft inFig. 2. The varies beingin different. planes give'justthe rightwave or motion to theliquid tov remove these bubbles. During thedevelopingfperiod therefore the vanes 'I2r and. 'i3 continue tor moveback and! forth adjacent'. the filmsand in planes substantially paralleltothe surfaces of saidllms.v The-vanes 'I2 and 'I3.also move: back andiortliA acrosscontainers` 30Aat constant. velocity or- Vuniform speed'.whenY they are.l alongside or in operative agitating position. This-is.importanti' anal-gives a uniform development. to all parts of the illm.It will be noted that aspivot- 8S'. moves around sprockets S3 and im,the varies l2 and lare substantially at the ends of their` travel andnot alongside ofthe films. The-'vanes-arevthen beyond the film. Also asYthe pivot Se moves around the remote sides of sprockets 865Y andS'Of'said pivot has its motion lengthwiseof inerr-iber` 56 decelerated andsaid pivot comes practicallyy to zero velocity-- lengthwise of member513"v as'lit isy in horizontal alignment with-the axes offsprocketsfand90. After passing said-position said pivot is accelerated the directionllengitudinally of member 56' and acquires;V uniformveloctyas it'travels between sprockets s3l and Se. The vane-s I2 are-thusdeceleratedas they pass beyond the lms at eachV side thereof andVccmepractically to a stop before making--their-reverse movement. Bythus moving-beyond the films yand being thus deceleratedandrstoppedbefore making their reverse movement production' of objectionable surgesand wave motions in the solutiony are prevented. The vanesnic-ve acrossthe films-with a comparatively slcw'uniform'velocity: The solution isthus gently rnovedeird` uniformA development vand treatmentV isaccomplished. ByfV using the U-shaped member forming thebars 65;" thelower portion thereof can move'Ioeneatl'rtheY films and the vanes 'I3carrbedisposed between the lms on the spaced portions ofthe filmshanger.The members 'I6 on the bottom' ofA the "portionV connecting" bars 65'move at either'side'cf channel 'Il and any appreciable' lateralswayingor ymovement ofA bars 5'5" is" thus: prevented.' It is desirableto have the` vanes I2f`and' 'I3"and'the bars E5' and' 69' positioned atone .endlof the containersV 30A'when the machine isstopped sothat'saidbars and vanes will not' interfere with. the`removal orplacement of'. the iilrn hangers. When themachin'e is operating, thebar" |24 rests on the upper-surfaceofatclr member I'I22, asv shown inFigs. 7 and'll. eachreciprocationof member 62; theporticn 'I9 engagesthe rounded end ofibar i212u andfdepresses this end, thus 'swingingsaidbar about itspivotpinmn. Thebar |211 ismerelyjmoved up anddovvn'atthis time. When the'mac'hine is'tobe stopped, the "operator willswingtherhandle |156 andtheyvertical portion of"rod'^l:'in 'a clockwisedirection toa vertical position, thus" movingh arm'v-4 Ille" to thevertical positionshownlinliig; 5. Springk IGT now moves rod I lil-tothe'right', as shown in Figs. 5 to 1l. the rod so'moves, itv carrieslatchbar |22 to the lef-t-iandwspring/I 30' pulls the endV ofy bar |24downward along 'theiinclined surface I 22b and 9 in line with thevertical surface |22a of the notch in latch |22. Bar |24 thus engagesthe vertical surface |22a and the motion of bar ||4 to the right isstopped.` This is the position shown in F'igs. 9 and 10. At this timeswitch arm |33 is in the position shown in Fig. 10 and has not movedquite to off position. Chain 82 therefore continues to travel and whenportion I9 again engages the rounded end of bar |24, the other end ofsaid bar will belifted and will bemoved out of alignment with verticalsurface |22a so that spring |01 can now move bar ||4 farther to theright, as shown in Figs. to l0, and said bar will take the positionshown in Fig. 5. At this time plate |38 is entirely out of engagementwith roller |36 of the switch arm |33 arid the switch is opened thusstopping motor 94. When bar l |4 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5,the brake |00 is moved against the belt pulley 97 and the machine isbrought rather quickly to rest. At this time member 52 is at the end ofits movement, as shown in Fig. 11. With the described constructiontherefore the machine always comes to rest with bars 65 and `ghe vanes'I2 and 13 at one end of the containers Temperature regulator fluid willusually be circulated about receptacle 26, as stated, through the pipesor conduits |54 and |55, but this has no connection with the presentinvention. The various liquids can be drained from the containers 30when desired through the Vdrain. pipes 32 and into the trough 24.

From the above description it will be seen that We have a very efcientand comparatively simple agitating device for a photographic liquid. Themachine is quite compact and constructed so as to make a very neatappearance. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice,found to be very successful and efficient and is being commerciallymade.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting fromthe scope of applicants invention, which generally stated,consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above setforth, in the parts and combinationsY of parts disclosed and defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1.y An agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain a photographic treating liquid and to contain a pair of filmhangers carrying photographic sheets disposed in spaced planes in saidcontainer and liquid, a plurality of substantially rigidliquid-agitating members disposed adjacent said-sheets and extendingsubstantially across the same in one direction and substantiallyparallel thereto, said agitating members being disposed in planesperpendicular to the planesofsaid sheets, a member at one side of saidsheets and disposed over said container to which said lagitating membersare connected in xed relation thereto, supporting means connected tosaid last mentioned member and extending over and without saidcontainer, and means disposed above and supported on said container forreciprocating said supporting means at uniform velocity to move saidagitating members in reverse directions substantially parallel to saidsheets, one of said agitating members being disposed between adjacentsheets and others at the remote sides of said sheets respectively.

2. agitating device having in combination,

a container adapted to contain a liquid for treating photographic sheetsand to support film hangers carrying photographic sheets disposed inspaced planes in said liquid, a plurality of spaced agitating vanesdisposed adjacent said sheets respectively, means supported on saidcontainer for moving said vanes back and forth in said container inplanes substantially parallel to said sheets, and means for renderingsaid last mentioned means inoperative and positioning said vanes at oneside of said container when their motion is stopped whereby said vaneswill be positioned so as not to interfere with the removal of saidhangers and sheets from said container.

3. An agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain a liquid for treating photographic sheets and to support nlmhangers carrying photographic sheets disposed in spaced substantiallyvertical planes in said liquid, a plurality of spaced liquid-agitatingmembers disposed adjacent said sheets respectively, means for movingsaid members back and forth in said container in planes substantiallyparallel to said sheets, and means for positioning said members adjacentone side of said container when not being moved whereby said vanes willnot interfere with the removal of said hangers and sheets from or theplacement of the same in said container.

4. An agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain a treating liquid and having spaced portions in each of which apair of photographic sheets are disposed in spaced substantiallyvertical planes, a guide member eX- tending across said containerbetween said portions, a carriage reciprocable on said guide member, abar on said carriage extending over said portions, supporting membersextending downwardly from said bar, rigid vanes rigidly supported onsaid supporting members and disposed respectively between and at theremote sides of said sheets, and means supported on said container forreciprocating said carriage to move said` vanes in planes adjacent theplanes of said sheets.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said supporting memberscomprising a portion disposed below said sheets, said vane disposedbetween said pair being supported on said last mentioned member andextending upwardly between said pair of sheets.

6. An agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain a treating liquid and to have photographic sheets disposedtherein in spaced planes, a plurality of liquid-agitating membersdisposed respectively adjacent said sheets, a carriage reciprocableacross and disposed over said container by which said vanes are carried,an endless chain connected to said carriage for reciprocating saidcarriage and moving said vanes substantially parallel to the surface ofsaid sheets for agitating said liquid and means for moving said chainand agitating member at substantially uniform velocity.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, a control means for stopping themovement of said last mentioned means and carriage, and means forapplying a brake to said driving means as it is stopped.

8. An agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain a treating liquid and to have photographic sheets disposedtherein in spaced planes, a plurality of liquid-agitating membersdisposed respectively adjacent said sheets, means supported on saidcontainer for moving said vanes back .andforth in said .receptacle inplanes substantially parallelgto said sheets, a control member for Vsaidmeans movable to a starting position to cause operation of said means,said control member being movable to a stop position to stop theoperation of said means, a second member movable Yin one direction bysaid control member when moved to said latter position, a spring urging.said second member in one direction and compressed when said controlmember .is moved tostart position, a second means for holding .saidsecond `member in position with said spring compressed, a third .memberreciprocated by said rst mentioned means, an electric motor `foractuating said ,first mention means, a switch [for said motor movable toopen position by said `second member, and a third means operated by saidthird member when said control member is moved to said stop position forreleasing said second member and opening 4said switch.

9. vAn agitating device having in combination, a container adapted tocontain Ya liquid for treating photographic sheets and to have sheetsdisposed in spaced planes in said liquid, a plurality of agitating vanesdisposed adjacent said sheets respectively, a carriage extending acrosssaid container and carrying said vanes, means for reciprocating saidcarriage to move said vanes back and forth in said receptacle in planesadjacent said sheets, a latch bar, a spring urging said latch barlongitudinally in one direction, an electric motor for actuating saidmeans, a switch ior said motor adapted to be opened by said latch bar, alatch resiliently heldin ,engagement with said latch bar, a controlmember for said means movable to a position to cause operation of saidmeans and to a stop position for stopping operation of said means, saidcontrol Ymember moving said latch bar in the opposite direction whenmoved to said stop position, a member reciprocable with said carriagefor engagingsaid latch bar as said carriage approaches ,the end of areciprocation for releasing said latch bar whereby said spring movessaid latch bar and opens said switch.

10. An agitating device having in combination, a container for asolution for treating photographic sheets, means for suspending a pairof photographic sheets in said container with said sheets disposed invparallel planes, said Container being of greater dimension than thetransverse dimension of said sheets, rigid plate-like vanes disposedbetween and at the remote sides of said sheets and in planessubstantially lperpendicular to the planes of said sheets, a memberextending across said sheets above the same to which said vanes aresecured, means above said container for reciprocating said member .andvanes with uniform velocity across and adjacent saidsheets and beyondthe same some vinstance at each side thereof.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, said last mentioned meanscomprising an endless travelling iexible member passing around ,pulleysvat .its ends whereby `the velocity .of said member .isdeceleratedassaid vvanes Apassbeyondsaid sheets .andsaid vanes are-thussimilarlydecelerated and come practically to a stopheforemaking rtheirreverse movement.

12. AAn agitatingideviceihaving in combination, a `container adapted tocontain a solution Afor treating photographic sheets., means forsupporting a Ypair ,of photographic sheets in said container, saidsheets being disposed in parallel planes, said containerbeing of greatertransverse dimension than said sheets, rigid plate-like vanes disposedbetween and at the remote sides Vof said ,sheets in planes substantially,perpendicular to the planes of .said sheets :.and extending across saidsheets and means for reversely moving said vanes across and adjacent`said sheets and beyond said sheets at eachside thereof in a directionsubstantially perpendicular vto the length of said vanes at uniformvelocity .and decelerating said vanes as they Vpass beyond said sheetsand bringing thesameto substantially zero velocity as they reverse theirmovement.

13. Anagitating device having Vin combination, a containeradaptedtoconta'inatreating liquid, means supported on and removable fromsaid container yfor supporting `a Ypair Vof photographic sheets in saidcontainer inspaced planes, a carrier having a member above 'said sheetsand a 'member below'said sheets, a plurality of liquid agitating membersextending between said last mentioned members and disposed adjacent saidsheets in planes perpendicular to Asaid sheets, Vmeans supported on saidcontainer for moving said carrier back and forth to k.reciprocate saidagitating members adjacent said 'sheets and means secured to the bottomof said container `for guiding said member disposed below said sheets.

14. Ina photographicbath'agitation device including means for supportinga pair of photo- `graphic sheets submerged in a treating liquid inspaced planes, the "combination of a carrier, means for reciprocatingAsaid carrier in reverse directions parallel to the plane of saidsheets, rigid vanes rigidly secured-to said carrier and disposedVbetween and at the remote sides of said sheets respectively, lsaidvanes having liquid moving surfaces Ydisposed in planes perpendicular tothe planes of saidsheets, said Vplanes in vwhich said vanes are disposedbeing oifset in a direction parallel to the'planes of said sheets.

ROBERT SARDESON. JOHN F. BRADEN. 'CONRAD E. LEE.

VReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED .STATES TEA'EEINTSNumber AName Date 2,259,259 Mace Oct. 14,1941 2,281,094 Chambers Apr.28, 1942 2,354,225 Stiler July 25, 1944

